Jail door control device



June 21, 1932. H. D. GARBE R ET AL JAIL DOOR CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet ATTORNEY June 21, 1932.

H. D. GARBER ET AL JAIL DOOR CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 12, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet .1 m x I 72 0! 5 z a a 0 m R a m a T x 6 A Hi U M M A f 8 J a 8 u M f q u 6 2 M, A M\/. W o a u i W 2 w 0 o m 0 I\40 1 F Z fllw m M v fl w 4 J 4 o W VQ/ n o o f 0 U a a--- g a J m w, w W; a U a M (3 u H. z 4 u a n A u u 7 v n fix 7 4 3 V n u w N w m u 4, J m a w w 0 4/ 4W p 3 2% Z 3 w E 3 3 June 1932- H. D. GARBER ET AL 1,

JAIL DOOR CONTROL DEVICE ATTORNEY Patented June 21, 1932 outta-n starts PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY D. GAR-BER, F CUYAHOGA FALLS,

AND WALTER W. MEIER, OF CLEVELAND;

OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO THE VAN BORN IRON W'ORKS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAN 1),; OHIO,

A CORPORATION OF OHIO JAIL DOOR CONTROL DEVICE This invention relates to jail door controlling means and more particularly to means for controlling, from one end of a row of jail cells, thcsliding doors of the cells. 7

Means for such purpose are not new in theart and are disclosed, for example, in Patent No. 1,840,623, issued January 12, 1932 to Harry D. Garber; and this invention comprises enerally improvements therein.

Objects of the invention are to provide a superior construction, being simpler, less expensive, and less likely to malfunction, than is found in the prior art. i

More particularly an object is to provide a mechanism for actuating the doors, which may be disposed so as to provide improved visibility of the latter to the operator. Another object is to provide that such mechanism be inoperative by forces applied to the doors. v

The exact nature ofthis invention together with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the first cell ofa row, cover parts being removed to show details of the control mechanism, the door being shown as locked closed, and the mechanism correspondingly set; Figs. 2, 3 and l are corresponding views showing various positions ofthe parts, Fig. 2 showing the door locked closed but its actuating mechanism in a removed position, Fig. 3 showing the door partly open but under control of the actuating mechanism, and Fig. 4 showing the door in locked open position and released from the actuating mechanism; Fig. 5 is an end view as from the position of the operator, showing details of the control mechanism, parts being removed for the purpose; Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation as in the plane of line 6-6, Fig. 5, the line 55 in Fig. 6 indicating the view from which Fig. 5 appears; Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail partly in section of a part of the mechanism forone door, shown as in locked closed position; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional elevation as in the plane of line 88, Fig. '1; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic plane view indicating the general disposition of the principal parts. V

With reference. now to the drawings, 1 is the barred front wall of a cell. rowhaving cells defined by partition walls; 2' (Fig. 9) with a front opening for each cell and for each opening a door 3islidable along the cell front to close against a hollow pilaster 4.. 7

Each door is suspended froma hanger; 5- arranged to run. along af track Gin a track box 7 which extends. uninterruptedly the length of the cell row, communicating between the pilasters 4. v Within the track box 7 extends a pull bar 8 having for each door a; gap nut 9. Each gap nut 9 has a notch 10 between a pair of pro.- jections 11, 12, for respectively opening and closing door-actuation as willappear.

Each door hanger 5 carries. a largebolt '13 for movement therewith, and. mountedfior vertical adjustment to engage. or. be disengaged from the corresponding gap nut 9. Such adjustment is. had hy'a latch bolt bar 14 aswill appear. i

From what has thus far been described. it will be apparent that if it be provided that the pull bar be adjustable along the cell-front the unit'distance which one dooris to move, and if the gap nuts be properly locatedupon the pull bar, each for its door, thenactuation of the pull bar will cause corresponding ac.- tuation of those doors whoselatch bolts 13. are engaged by their gap nuts 9.

That such actuation of'the pull bar may be had by an operator from the end of the row of cells, we provide on the; near end of the pull bar a rack 15. The teeth of the rack 15 have helical characteristics; to fit a cooperative screw 16 secured to rotate with a shaft 17 which in turn is secured against endwise motion. It will be appreciated that the arrangement providesthat. rotation. of theshaft 17 will efi'ectlo-ngitudinal motion of the. rack 15, but motion cannotbe transmitted in the opposite. direction, from the rack to the screw. For actuation of; the shaft 17 a sprocket 18 is securedv upon its end andhas. connection by a. chain 19 with'a larger sprocket. 20..

The. sprocket 20 is securedwitln a;pinion.21 meshing; with. a gear. 22.. These-last named parts are suitably mounted. in a control box 23 at the end of the cell row so that a crank 24 fitted over the end of the shaft 25 carrying the gear 22, may serve to actuate the parts. It will be evident that rotation of such crank will cause rotation of the shaft 17 at a much higher speed, the rack 15, however, being caused to move relatively slowly. The advantage of the arrangement is that it allows a position of the operator overlooking all the cell doors of the row, and does not require any projection other than by the crank 24, beyond the cell front line, so that the operator of the crank has unobstructed vision along the front of all of the cells in the row. He has positive control as well as clear observation of all of the doors, which latter are immovable except at his will.

As has been stated, the engagement of the latch bolt 13 of each do'or with its gap nut 9 is controlled by a latch bolt bar 14. For this purpose the latch bolt is supported as through a roller 26 upon its bar 14 which latter has proper position and extent to allow for full door movement. As shown the latch bolt bar has supportv at one end through a link 27 car- 'ried upon a hanger 28, and at its other end by a hanger 29 supporting a roller 30. The latch bolt bar has a cam surface 31 cooper. tive with the roller and as will be appar- "ent the mounting arrangement is such that when the bar is pulled to the left Figs. 14, it

will be caused to rise with translatory motion and when released the bar will'move to the right and downwardly. The latch bolt 13 resting upon the bar but confined against horizontal motion will have vertical motion corresponding with the vertical component of the motion of the latch bolt bar. Thus the described adjustment of the bar will control -actuating engagement between the door and its gap nut 9. r p

The door-closing projection 12 of the gap nut is larger than the door-opening projection 11 so that the latch bolt 13 has three significant positions relative to the gap nut: a lowermost position (Fig. 3) wherein the gap nut engages the latch bolt to move it in either door-closing or door-opening direction; an intermediate position (Figs. 1 and 2) wherein the gap nut will engage the latch bolt to ciose the door but not to open it; and an uppermost position (Fig. 4) wherein the gap nut clears the latch bolt.

That the latch bolt bars 14 may be controlled by the operator at the control box 23, for such adjustment of their latch bolt bars, levers 32 are provided at the control box, one for each latch bolt bar and connected therewith. Each connection as shown includes a pull rod 33 connected by suitable chains and sheaves conventionally indicated at 34, with a'bell crank lever 35, through a link 36 with a second bell crank lever 37 and pull rod 38. Each bell crank may have connection as by pull rod 39 extending down into the pilas= ter 4 to control suitable mechanism for looking the corresponding door in closed position. At any rate each lever 32 has three positions corresponding to the three latch bolt positions, the uppermost lever position (Fig. 2)

being the locked closed one (wherein the door may be additionally locked by lowering of the pull rod 39), the intermediate position (Fig. 3) being unlocked position, and the lowermost position (Fig. 4) being locked open position. The weight of the parts tends to balance them to locked closed position, and is generally sufficient for the purpose although springs not shown may be employed if necessary to insure such balance.

In order that as any door closes, its latch bolt 13 will be automatically released from its gap nut against door opening engagement thereby, each latch bolt bar 14 is provided with a cam 40 so arranged that when the latch bolt bar is in lowermost position, as the door closes its latch bolt 13 will be raised to intermediate position.

That, as the door closes, its closing motion may be damped, and after the door is unlocked it will tend to open, a tripper plunger 41 ismounted in a bracket 42 to be yieldably urged by a spring '43 in door opening direction, and a rod 44 is secured upon the door hanger 5 to engage the plunger 41 as the door closes and move it to the position of Fig. 7 when the door is fully closed. Thus when the door is moved by its gap nut from open position as in Fig. 3, to closed position Fig. 1, unless it be locked closed by parts associated with the pull rod 39, removal of the gap nut in door opening direction will be followed by opening of the door under the action of the spring 43. The proportions of the parts are such that the door will be thus caused to follow the gap nut in opening direction until the latch bolt 13 rides oflf the cam 40 on the latch bolt bar 14 and is engaged by the opening projection 11 of the gap nut. Outward motion of the plunger is limited by a detent such as indicated at 45.

That the pull bar 39 may not be lowered to lock the door, nor the corresponding lever 32 be fully raised to indicate locked position unless the door be fully closed, a pin 46 is mounted upon an arm of the bell crank 35 to engage an opening 47 provided in the plunger 41 which opening is positioned to receive the pin 46 only when the plunger 41 has been depressed by movement of the door to fully close the latter.

Thus, although the levers 32 are balanced to rise to uppermost position indicating that their doors are locked closed, unless any door is actually fully closed its control lever 32 will be prevented from rising beyond intermediate position Fig. 3, by its pin 46 bearing against its plunger 41 instead of entering the opening 47.

To allow movement of the control parts from unlocked position Fig. 3, to locked position Fig. 2, without affecting the latch bolt bar 14, the lost motion indicated at 55 is provided between the latch bolt bar and its pull rod 38.

A common control is provided for the levers 32 for optional use when desired, so that all doors may be locked or unlocked simultaneously. This control comprises a master release bar 48, one for each row of levers mounted thereabove for vertical motion to pull the levers downwardly. As shown these master release bars are carried by a pair of spaced racks 49 between which they extend, the racks being engaged by cooperative pinions 50 upon a shaft 51 which carries a worm wheel 52 meshing with a worm 53. The parts being mounted in a suitable housing the worm 53 is carried by a project ing shaft 54 adapted to receive the handle 24.

It will be apparent that upon actuation of this mechanism by the handle 24 all of the levers 32 may be positively lowered or raised, but that if the master release bars be lowered by the mechanism as to lock all of the doors open, no door can be unlocked by individual effort applied to its handle 32.

Operation will be apparent. Assuming the door locked closed as in Fig. 1, its lever 32 being in uppermost position, and its latch bolt 13 being raised by the cam 40 of its latch bolt bar to clear the door opening projection 11 of its gap nut 9, the gap nut 9 is free to move in door opening direction as indicated Fig. 2, that another door, which may be open, may be picked up bythe corresponding gap nut. The first door being locked closed, its spring 43 is ineffective upon it.

Suppose the parts of the door again positioned as in Fig. l and its control lever 32 moved down to intermediate or unlocked position. The spring 43 is released by withdrawal of the pin 46 simultaneously with unlocking of the door, and the door will be opened by the spring. Then if the gap nut 9 be in door-closed position as in Fig. 1 the door is still locked closed, but now only by the gap nut. As soon as the gap nut is shifted in door-opening direction the spring 43 will cause the door to follow the gap nut until its latch bolt 13 drops into the notch 10 to be engaged by the door opening projection 11 of the gap nut. Thereafter continued actuation of the pull bar 8 by the operator at the control box will positively open the door. When the lever 32 is depressed as in Fig. 4 its latch bolt 13 will be entirely cleared from its gap nut 9 so that the pull bar 8 may be manipulated with reference to other doors only. Suitable means for locking the door in fully open position are preferably provided but form no part of the present invenand. means for actuating said gap nut under operator control, said means' being incapable of actuation by forces applied to said gap nut.

2'. In apparatus for controlling a sliding jail door, a latch bolt associated with said door to move therewith, a gap nut mounted for movement along the path of said door and arrangedto engagesaid latch bolt to move thelatter and consequently the. doom move the latter and consequently thedo'orf' and means for actuating said gap nut under operator control and ncluding cooperative screw and rack parts arranged to be incapa- 3. In apparatus for controlling a sliding jail door, alatchbolt associated with said door to move therewith, a gap nut mounted for movement along the path. of said door and arranged to engage said latch bolt to move the latter and consequently the door, and means for actuating said gap nut under operator control and including a, rack associated with said gap nut and a. cooperative screw arranged for operator operation.

4. In apparatus for controlling a. sliding jail door, a gap nut. mounted for operator controlled movemental'ong the. path of said door, a latch bolt engageable with said gap nut and associated' with said door. to move the latter, and a latch bolt bar'snp-porting said latch bolt to control its engagement. with said gap nut, said bar having means for releasing said latch bolt from door-opening engagement as: the door is' closed, whereby said gap nut, afterclosing the door, may be moved from door-closed position without opening the door.

5. In apparatus for controlling a sliding jail door, a gap nut mounted for operator controlled movement along the path of said door, a latch bolt engageable with said gap nut and associated with said door to move the latter, a latch bolt bar supporting said latch bolt to control its engagement with said gap nut, said bar having cam means for releasing said latch bolt from' door-opening engagement as the door is closed, and means for yieldably urging the door from closed position when the latter is adjacent said poble of actuationby forces applied to the gap nut.

.sition, whereby, the door being unlocked, as

said gap nut is moved-from door-closed position it will be followed by said door until said latch bolt is released by said cam means to door-opening engagement by the gap nut.

6. In apparatus for controlling a sliding jail door, a gap nut mounted for operator controlled movement along the path of said door, a latch bolt engageable with said gap nut and associated with said .door to move the latter, a latch bolt bar supporting said vlatch bolt to control its engagement with said gap nut, said barhaving cam means for releasing said latch bolt from door-opening engagement as the door is closed, and means for yieldably urging the door from closed position when the latter: is adjacent said position, whereby the door being unlocked, as said gap nut is moved from door-closed positionit will be followed by said door until said latch bolt isreleased by said cam means to door-opening engagement'by the gap nut, means'providing for operator control of said latch bolt bar and including means for rendering said yieldable means ineffective upon said door at the will of the operator, when the'door is fully closed.

7 having a plurality of adjacent control levers arranged for independent motion for respective control of corresponding jail doors,

a master release bar arranged to engage all of said levers,"andoperator-operated means for controlling said master release bar to cause simultaneous motion of said levers, and including cooperative screw and wheel parts whereby said release bar cannot be actuated by any of said levers. v

8. In apparatus for controlling a sliding jail door, a latch bolt associated with said I door to move therewith, a gap nut mounted for movement along the path of said door and arranged to engage said latch bolt to move the latter and consequently the door, and means for actuating said gap nut under operator control and including parts ar ranged in threaded relation to be incapable of actuation by forces applied to the gapnut. In testimony whereof we hereby aflix our signatures. v

' HARRY D. GAR-BER.

. WALTER WM. MEIER.

; In apparatus of the classdescribed and j 

